All-Action James Kirkland Ready to Brawl with Rising Star Canelo Alvarez

James Kirkland expects to cash in on the opportunity of a lifetime against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Kirkland told Bleacher Report he will take the fight right to the popular Mexican icon.

“One thing I know, anything I put all my heart and soul into, whether inside the ring or outside the ring, is going to go exactly as planned," said Kirkland. "If I want to drag him there [into deep waters], I plan to do that. Anything that I’m going to do and want to do in the ring as far as adjusting, movement, pressing, power punches, speed—whatever I’m going to want to do, I can make it happen as long as I put my mind to it.”

Kirkland faces Alvarez at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The bout will be televised live on HBO at 9 p.m. ET preceded by a replay of Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao and a live undercard bout featuring junior welterweights Humberto Soto and Freddie Gomez. 

If you’ve seen Kirkland fight, you know there are few in the fight game to ever have done so with more passion. He’s the premier brawler of his generation, a hard-hitting puncher who comes forward until either he or his opponent is in ruins.

But Kirkland is heading into the biggest bout of his life without Ann Wolfe, a trainer he is undefeated with. In his only appearance without Wolfe back in 2011, Kirkland suffered a Round 1 knockout to Nobuhiro Ishida.

Kirkland would not go into specifics about the approach of his new trainer, Rick Morones, but said all would be revealed on fight night.  

“The proof is in the pudding, so I don’t want to speak on what I might be or if I’m ready. I’m just excited to put [a show] back on in Texas and definitely be a crowd-pleaser and give the fans what they want to see. Hopefully, Alvarez is going to do the same thing so we can make this the Fight of the Year.”

The bout has the potential to be explosive. Both Kirkland and Alvarez are exciting fighters. While the latter applies a bit more science to his craft, neither are movers who would rather jab their way to wins. Instead, these men ply their trade by loading up on power punches, and they throw them in combination.

Credit: Rachel McCarson

Even Alvarez's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, believes Kirkland has the style to give Alvarez a rough night. 

"It’s exciting," said De La Hoya. "It’s going to be a fun fight. It hasn’t even happened yet and a lot of people are calling it a candidate for Fight of the Year. It’s because of the styles. It’s because of the firepower that’s going to be in that ring May 9. It’s because for the thousands of screaming fans that we’re going to have come fight night. You put all that together and I think we’re going to get an explosive night."

Kirkland said he’s seen things in Alvarez he can exploit, though he also respects him as a top-level fighter.

“I’ve definitely seen him fight before down in certain [training] camps, and I’ve seen certain things take place. As far as what I think about him…he comes with speed, power and a little bit of everything.”

Most boxing fans would favor Alvarez in the bout, something Kirkland brought up himself on the call. According to OddShark.com, the betting public feels the same.

“Everybody is already looking at the fight a certain way, and that’s understandable. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. “

Still, most boxing fans would also consider Kirkland an incredibly dangerous opponent for any one fighting in or around the junior middleweight division. The key will be whether Kirkland’s change in trainers was a good move. Kirkland wholeheartedly believes it was the right thing to do.

“He brings exactly what I need when it comes down to getting ready to fight Canelo Alvarez. It’s just that simple. I won’t go into detail about what this person does or what that person does. He brings everything to the table that I need to perform.”

One of the thing Morones mentioned in a recent press release (via BadLeftHook.com) was jabbing. He also said he was helping improve Kirkland's defense. 

If you’ve seen Kirkland fight before, though, you know he’s not really known for either of those things. To his credit, he was noncommittal about Morones’ comments, perhaps signaling he’s a fighter who already knows and accepts what he is really all about: action.

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

In fact, Kirkland laughed at me when I asked him if he would throw a lot of jabs against Alvarez.

“I’ll put it like this: I have a game plan. I don’ t need to go back and forth as far as what my trainer may have said. At end of the day, I’m just focused on the fight and not what people expect to see but what will be seen.”

Kirkland fights like an animal. He’s the type who would rather stand and trade than run for cover, even when he’s hurt. It’s what has made him a fan favorite and probably what got him the opportunity against Alvarez after being out of the ring for over a year.

So what’s inside of a man that makes him such a warrior? What makes Kirkland tick? Why does he crave the blood-and-guts action he’s known for?

“I don’t even know how to answer your question, but at the end of the day, I like to fight. Take a punch, give a punch and roll a punch.”

As he does inside the ring, Kirkland kept his response simple and direct.  

“I’m a fighter, man.”

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.